Trouble Along the Way

(1953)

110 minutes

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Written by Robert Hardy Andrews, Douglas Morrow, Jack Rose, Melville Shavelson and James Edward Grant

Produced by Melville Shavelson

Cinematography by Archie Stout

Distributed by Warner Bros.

Drama / Comedy / Sports

Cast:

John Wayne as Steve Williams

Donna Reed as Alice Singleton

Charles Coburn as Father Burke

Tom Tully as Father Malone

Sherry Jackson as Carol Williams

Marie Windsor as Anne McCormick

Tom Helmore as Harold McCormick

Dabbs Greer as Father Peterson

Leif Erickson as Father Provincial

Douglas Spencer as Procurator

Lester Matthews as Cardinal O'Shea

James Dean as Uncredited Extra

A down and out football coach and single father, Steve Williams, is hired by an equally down and out Catholic college in New York.  Steve initially refuses the college ’s offer, but accepts when a social worker arrives to investigate charges that Steve is neglecting his daughter, Carol.  Despite a win for the team using Steve’s questionable methods, things begin to go downhill when Steve’s ex wife shows up with her rich and influential new husband, threatening to take Carol away from her father.

Notes:

Director Michael Curtiz was the director for the classic film Casablanca.

James Dean appears as a football spectator in this film, although his role is uncredited.

The outdoor scenes of the college were filmed at Pomona College .  The football scenes were filmed at the Polo Grounds in New York, the field for the NFL New York Giants at the time.

Originally Trouble Along the Way was to be called Alma Mater.